Karl Stefanovic calls out Russell Crowe for ignoring his text message

Karl Stefanovic had a bone to pick with Russell Crowe on the Today show on Wednesday.

The Hollywood actor, 56, was promoting his new film Unhinged on Nine’s breakfast show when co-host Allison Langdon cheekily brought up the topic of Russell and Karl’s friendship.

‘Rusty, can I just interrupt? Karl told me he was watching Gladiator the other night with his son, and he flicked you a text message,’ Allison said as a red-faced Karl burst into laughter.

‘That was you? I wasn’t sure if it was you,’ Russell responded with a laugh, adding: ‘[My phone] came up with a thing… maybe Karl Stefanovic, but I wasn’t quite sure.’ 

Karl explained that he’d sent Russell the text message to impress his teenage son River while they were watching the star’s iconic film Gladiator. 

‘I’m sitting there with my son going, “I’m going text Rusty,” and River goes, “You don’t know Rusty!”‘ he said.

‘I said, “I’ve got his number so I’ll text him.” And nothing came back!’ he chuckled. 

Brushing off his accidental snub, Russell apologised and said: ‘I’m so sorry. I’ll send you a text for you to show River.’

It comes several weeks after Russell revealed he felt guilty over having failed to spend enough quality time with his own children when they were growing up.  

Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show last month, the Oscar-winning actor admitted it ‘worried him greatly’ that he hadn’t bonded with his sons, Charles, 16, and Tennyson, 14, due to his international acting career.

‘I look back, and I think I should have given more time [to my children]. It’s tricky. I have this big job, and my entire work life takes place overseas,’ he said.

He also explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had given him a fresh perspective on fatherhood, after travel bans encouraged him to spend more time at home with his kids.